LEGAL PEOPLE

Reiter & Walsh PC is pleased to announce that Jennifer Secorski has been promoted to firm partner.

Secorski is a stalwart member of the Reiter & Walsh PC (ABC Law Centers) team, starting out as a legal assistant and then attending law school at night to become an attorney.

She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, Dearborn, and went on to graduate from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2013.

For more than 16 years, Secorski has played a crucial part in resolution of many of the firm’s multi-million dollar birth injury cases. She has won numerous awards, including the Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly “Up & Coming Class of 2018” and “Rising Stars” recognition from Super Lawyers Magazine.

Secorski is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Michigan Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice, and the Birth Trauma Litigation Group.

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Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that Stephen P. Dunn, an experienced business litigation attorney and United States Army veteran, has joined the firm as a member in the Troy office.

Dunn’s business litigation experience includes business ownership oppression litigation, employment litigation, sales representative commission disputes, and supplier-focused automotive litigation. He also serves as outside general counsel to numerous businesses and business owners and advises corporate executives and boards on a wide variety of matters.

Dunn previously was a partner in a large Midwest-based business law firm and also served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Oakland County.

Dunn is currently a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve JAG Corps. He has served as a prosecutor and military magistrate for extended periods on active duty in the United States and abroad. His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.  Dunn completed the Army Airborne course, Army Air Assault course, Army Command and General Staff College (ILE), and Army Judge Advocate Officer Basic and Advanced Courses.

Dunn is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School. He was a member of the Crain’s Detroit Business “40 Under 40” class in 2014 and has been honored on multiple occasions as a “Rising Star” by Michigan Super Lawyers and as a DBusiness magazine “Top Lawyer.” Dunn is licensed in the states of Michigan, Illinois, and Texas, and is admitted to numerous federal district courts around the country. He is a member of the board of trustees for the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Oakland County.

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Butzel Long attorney, director and vice president Geaneen M. Arends has been selected as one of Crain’s 2021 Notable Executives in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Individuals chosen for this recognition were profiled in the May 17 edition of Crain’s Detroit Business.

Arends concentrates her practice in mergers and acquisitions, business formation, general business and commercial real estate transactions. She also is chair of Butzel Long’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and is the immediate past chairperson of the real estate and corporate practice groups at Butzel Long.

She serves as first vice-chair of the Board of Trustees of the Detroit Historical Society (Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum) and is a Trustee of the Detroit Educational Television Foundation/Detroit Public Television (Detroit PBS). She also serves on the Steering Committee for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Classical Roots Celebration. 

She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, serves on the Real Estate Advisory Board for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and is an alumna of Leadership Detroit, Class XXVII.
Arends is a graduate of Michigan State University (1994) and Boston College Law School (1998). Arends is admitted to the State Bar of Michigan and the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan.

Butzel Long is also proud to announce the formation of its Digital Asset & Blockchain Specialty Team.

The rapidly increasing use of blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets has given rise to complex regulatory and legal challenges across virtually all industries.

To meet this expanding client need, Butzel Long is one of the first law firms in Michigan to establish a Digital Asset & Blockchain Specialty Team. This multidisciplinary team is comprised of seasoned attorneys with significant experience in distributed ledger technology and diverse backgrounds in intellectual property, litigation and governmental investigations, financial regulation, emerging technology law, cybersecurity and corporate law.

As blockchain and digital assets have gained market acceptance and adoption, Butzel Long helps clients evaluate and maximize new opportunities. The Butzel Long team stays abreast of new and existing regulations, rulings and orders, and keeps track of legal trends and technological developments to help clients anticipate and prepare for any compliance requirements and changes.

The Butzel Long Digital Asset & Blockchain Specialty Team includes:

• William J. Kraus represents individuals and businesses involved in governmental and regulatory investigations, U.S. state and federal litigation, and alternative dispute resolution. He concentrates his practice on disputes relating to the financial industry, with a particular focus on legal and regulatory issues related to digital assets and blockchain technology.

• Arthur Dudley II has experience in nearly all aspects of corporate law and has practiced law for more than 40 years. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, representation of emerging growth companies, general corporate representation, securities law and executive compensation.

• Jennifer A. Dukarski focuses her practice at the intersection of technology and communications with an emphasis on emerging and disruptive issues: digital media and content, cybersecurity and privacy, infotainment and shared mobility, connected cars and autonomous vehicles. She assists clients on compliance with various industry regulations, functional safety requirements, and voluntary technical standards.

• Aaron Kamlay has been practicing intellectual property law for more than 15 years. His clients range from beginning startups looking to establish a new technology, to Fortune 100 companies looking to expand their IP portfolios. He specializes in complex prosecution and strategic portfolio management, acquisitions and divestitures of IP, and portfolio creation.

• Claudia Rast is Practice Department chair of the Intellectual Property, Cybersecurity and Emerging Technology Group. Blending her expertise in law, business, and science, she assists companies in their strategic choice and use of technology. She counsels companies both large and small on innovative and emerging issues in the areas of privacy, cybersecurity, data theft, intellectual property licensing and registration, and the forensic preservation and analysis of electronically stored information.

In addition, Butzel Long immigration law attorney Reginald A. Pacis has been appointed a trustee to the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC), which helps address the needs and concerns of the Asian Pacific American (APA) communities in Michigan. Previously, he was a commissioner to the MAPAAC.

Pacis focuses his practice in immigration law and has handled a variety of immigration matters including H-1B specialty occupation cases, L-1 Intracompany transfers, Labor Certification matters, Immigrant Visa Petitions/Adjustment of Status applications and interviews, TN Free trade cases, H-1B Department of Labor Investigations, I-9 employer verification compliance, and U.S. Port of Entry airport and land port interviews.

He was named Immigration Lawyer of the Year 2013 in the field of Immigration Law by The Best Lawyers in America and has been listed in Best Lawyers for several years.

Pacis is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and the Samahang Pilipino Ng Oakland Filipino organization. He served two consecutive one-year terms from 2003 to 2005 as chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA and was a member of the AILA National Board of Governors for those terms. Pacis previously served as secretary (2001 to 2003) and Membership chairperson of the Michigan Chapter of AILA (1998 to 2003). 

Pacis is a vice president and board member of the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit. He also is a speaker in demand on immigration law matters.

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Matt Rupp has joined Troutman Pepper as a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. Most recently, Rupp served as a partner at McDermott Will & Emery.

Rupp has spent more than 10 years counseling clients on a variety of corporate matters. He focuses his practice on representing private equity and other investment funds, private and public companies, and family offices in a wide variety of transactions, with an emphasis on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, restructurings, joint ventures, and general corporate counseling.

Rupp will work with partners in the Corporate, Health Science, and Technology practice areas on private equity and mergers and acquisitions issues.

“I look forward to joining Troutman Pepper’s highly regarded Corporate Practice and contributing to its growth by continuing to advise on their most significant private equity and transactional matters,” said Rupp. “I am excited to contribute my expertise to ensuring clients continue to receive excellent service.”

Rupp earned both his B.A. and law degree from the University of Michigan.

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The Michigan Economic Development Corporation Executive Committee recently named Quentin L. Messer Jr. as MEDC CEO. The announcement comes following a national search led by the organization’s Executive Committee that included a needs analysis for the role and input from stakeholders statewide on key attributes the position required for success.

 As CEO, Messer is charged with implementing and executing MEDC’s core mission of business development and attraction, community development, providing access to capital and enhancing Michigan’s image and brand. His responsibilities will include administering all programs, funds, personnel, contracts and all other administrative functions of MEDC.

Messer comes to the MEDC from the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) where he has served as president and CEO since 2015. He led efforts around business attraction, small business growth, talent development, branding and market responsive, equitable economic growth while also cultivating partner relationships and leading efforts to secure private sector investment.  Under Messer’s leadership, NOLABA became one of fewer than 90 economic development organizations globally to earn accreditation from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

“America is at its best when Michigan is at its best, and I’m thrilled to join the proven MEDC team, the governor, the legislature and economic development stakeholders across this great state in driving an economy that creates upward mobility and opportunity for the broadest possible group of Michiganders,” said Messer. “Economic development is about connecting people to good jobs, connecting businesses to great people and financial capital, and supporting vibrant communities, and I look forward to doing this vital work at MEDC.”

Prior to his role at NOLABA, Messer served as the assistant secretary at Louisiana Economic Development, the lead agency for economic development for the state of Louisiana. In that role he was designated president of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation, helping to provide financial assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses in partnership with the private sector and federal agencies including the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Messer brings to his new role private-sector experience at The Boston Consulting Group and O’Melveny & Myers LLP, as well as work at a variety of start-up ventures, including as a principal at Foster Chamberlain, LLC – a start-up venture accelerator and corporate venturing consultancy.

Messer also served on the Louisiana Economic Recovery Taskforce in support of the Louisiana State Legislature’s COVID-19 relief efforts and was a member of the Reopening Task Force for New Orleans Public Schools. He has been named in Consultants Connect North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers (2020, 2019) and was named Biz New Orleans CEO of the Year (2020) and Businessperson of the Year (2019).

An IEDC certified economic developer, Messer received a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and his law degree and Master of Business Administration from Columbia University’s Law and Business Schools, respectively, and serves on board of directors of the International Economic Development Council, where he serves on the board’s Committee for Public Conduct and also is the incoming Co-Chair, Racism in Economic Development Committee.

Messer replaces Mark Burton, who stepped down from the position in March of this year. MEDC Executive Committee Chairman Awenate Cobbina and Vice Chairman Jeff Noel will continue to lead the MEDC until Messer’s appointment takes effect on July 19. Noel will serve as the official CEO, as legally required, with decisions and approvals being concurrently executed with Cobbina.

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For the 19th consecutive year, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP has been recognized as one of the leading law firms in Michigan by Chambers USA 2021.

Warner has been ranked as one of Michigan’s leading law firms in the areas of corporate, general commercial litigation, employee benefits and executive compensation, and real estate.

Several attorneys have been awarded for their work in the areas above. Local attorneys that were recognized include:

• Mary Jo Larson, employee benefits and executive compensation

• Lisa B. Zimmer, employee benefits and executive compensation

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Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Chambers & Partners, publisher of the world’s leading guides to the legal profession, has ranked eight of the firm’s practices in Michigan and 31 of the firm’s Michigan attorneys in the 2021 Chambers USA Guide.

Below is a list of Dickinson Wright practices that are listed in Chambers USA 2021:

Michigan

Banking & Finance (Band 1)

Bankruptcy & Restructuring (Band 1)

Corporate/M&A

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

Intellectual Property

Labor & Employment

Litigation: General Commercial (Band 1)

Real Estate (Band 1)

Below is a list of local Dickinson Wright attorneys who are listed in Chambers USA 2021:

—Banking and Finance

Craig W. Hammond, Troy

William P. Shield Jr., Detroit (Band 1)

Rachel Wolock, Detroit

—Banking and Finance: Bankruptcy

Steven G. Howell, Detroit (Band 1)

James A. Plemmons, Detroit

Theodore B. Sylwestrzak, Detroit (Band 1)

—Corporate/M&A

Richard M. Bolton, Detroit

Mark R. High, Detroit

Michael T. Raymond, Troy

—Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

Roberta P. Granadier, Troy

Eric W. Gregory, Troy

Cynthia A. Moore, Troy

—General Commercial Litigation

Thomas G. McNeill, Detroit (Band 1)

Edward H. Pappas, Troy

Daniel D. Quick, Troy

—Intellectual Property

William H. Honaker, Troy

—Labor & Employment

Angelina Delmastro, Detroit

Timothy H. Howlett, Detroit (Band 1)

—Real Estate Law

James N. Candler Jr., Detroit

Stephen E. Dawson, Troy

Monica J. Labe, Troy

Katheryne L. Zelenock, Troy